AN EAST Lancashire Indian restaurant has been fined for not complying with illegal working legislation.

Trishna’s of Whalley, in King Street, must pay a civil penalty of £15,000 after three Bangladeshi men were found working illegally at the business.

One had overstayed his visa, one was working in breach of his visa conditions and the other was an illegal entrant to the UK. Home Office Immigration Enforcement officers also visited Ali’s Chippy, which used to be run by a management company in Blackburn, on 1 August 2013.

A Pakistani man was working there illegally as he was working in breach of his visa conditions.

The business remains liable for a civil penalty of £8,750 for not carrying out the correct right-to-work checks on its staff.

The Lotus Garden Chinese Takeaway, in The Green, Chorley, must also pay £5,000.

The Home Office has published a list of employers who have been served with a civil penalty for flouting illegal working rules between October 1 and December 31, 2013 without starting to repay the fine within 28 days of the notice being served.

The government department also lists the establishments that have been served with a second or further penalty notice once they have exhausted all their objection or appeal rights regardless of whether any payments have been made.

Abba Ali, director at Ali’s Chippy, in Meadow Street, Preston, said: “I did all the background checks.

“That worker came as a student and he had a student visa. He applied for a renewal and he got the visa extension.

“I believe he had the right to stay in this country.

“The worker was on work experience and we were not paying him any money.

“I do not believe I have broken the law. I have given all of the documents to my solicitor.”

When the Lancashire Telegraph tried to contact Trishna’s, the manager declined to comment. Nobody was available at the Chinese takeaway.

Paul Airlie, assistant director of North West Immigration Enforcement, said: “We rely on intelligence from the public, so I would encourage anyone with information about illegal working to contact us.”

Anyone with information about suspected immigration abuse can visit the website www.gov.uk/report-immigration-crime or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.